Time-limit circuit-breaker.



v No. 861,611. -PA'I'ENTED .IULY-30, 190'7l W. M. SCOTT. TIME LIMIT CIRCUIT BREAKER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.31, 1907.

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WILLIAM M. SCOTT, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

TINIECLIMIT CIRCUIT-I3I'tElAKEIt.V

No, 861,611.v

Specification of Letters` Patent.

Patented July 30, 190'?.

Applicatioxptiled January 31,1907. Serial No. 354,991.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAMM. Seo'rr, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county el' Philadelphia and State oi Pennsylvania,I have invented a new'and useful Time-Limit Circuit- Breaker, of which the following is a specilication.

My invention relates tol electrical switches, circuit breakers, or the like, having'applied to the tripping or control mechanism thereof a start delaying the character shown and described in Letters Patent of the United States No. 830,537, September l1, 1906.

It is the object oi' my invention -to provide a start delaying device which shall be uniform in action irrespective of the number or' times it is called into action or the-'interval of `time between responses.

Itis the further object el my invention to rendervthe start delayingdevice adjustable to the end that it may respond with varying degrees of promptness to applied forces oi the'same or different magnitudes.

device of My invention resides also in other features' hereinafter described an'd pointed out in the claims. For anillusl'ration of one form my ,invention may take reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevationvof an automatic circuit breaker having applied thereto my start delaying` device. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectionali view showing the `start delaying device and associated parts. Fig. 3 is a front elevation, partly insection, of a portion of the -tripping mechanism. Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the Y cup of the start delaying device. Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view oi the movable sucker element. Fig. 6 is a front elevational view of a part of the adjusting means for the tripping mechanism.

Referring to Fig-1', 1 and 2 are, respectively, the upper and lower main stationary contact blocks secured upon the base or switchboard 3, such as marble or any other suitable insulating material. The 'laminated' bridging member 4, adapted to engage and bridge the terminal blocks l and 2, is supported on butI insulated from the arm 5 which is pivoted at 6 in the bracket or housing 7 secured upon the base 3.

Supported by and in electrical communication with the upper terminal bloclk 1, is the stationary shunt metallic Contact 8 with which coperates g the movable shunt metallic contact 9, supported by springs 10 upon the arm 5, though insulated therefrom. A bracket ll, secured upon and in electrical communication with the terminal block 1 supports the'stationary shunt carbon inwardly beyond the pivot 18 and is pvoted at 19 to the toggle linkl 20, which, 'in turn, is pivoted to the arm 5 contact 12, pivoted at- 13. The coperating movable 'atively movable sucker element 47,

17 form a. toggle, serving, in the well known manner, to cramp the laminated bridging member 4 into engagement with the Contact blocks l and 2.

The roller 23 is pivoted at 24 in the operators handle 17, and is adapted to be engaged and held by the latch 25, pivoted at 26 to the housing 7 and having the lip 252 rection against the latch 25 whose countercloclmvise rotation about the pivot 26 is limited by a suitable stop. The latch actuating member 28 is also pivoted at 26 and "carries at `its forward end the adjustable screw 29, which serves to strike upon the top oi' the latch 25 to disengage it from the roller 23. "he tail 30 of the latch actuating member 28 is in the path of travel of the striking member 31, 'which forms an integral part of the armature carrying frame 32, pivoted to the base or housing at 33. An armature 34 is secured to the frame 32 and is adapted to be attracted bythe poles 35 or' the magnet whose coil 36 is connected at one end to the terminal 37 and at the other end to the lower portion 2 of the terminal block 2. The 32 has two downwardly extending arms 38 between which is pivoted the member 39 tapped at its center 40 to receive the vertically eX- tending rod 4l upon the lower end oi' which is supported the movable sucker element 47 of the start delaya spring 27 serves to press in an upward dii at 2l`. The link 20 and the extension 22 of the handle v ing device. The rod 4l has at its lower end a transversely extending integral portion 42 which bears pivot-ally at its ends 43 upon the pin or rod 44 extending diainetrically through the ring 45. The ring 45 is, in turn, pivoted at opposite lmds of a diameter (at right angles to the rod 44)*in 'ears 46 at the ends of a diameter and on the upper side ol' the movable Sucker member 47. By this construction the sucker` member 47 has an universal joint or gimbals connection with the vertical rod 4l, allowing it to adapt itsell' perfectly to the relatively stationary sucker member 48 formed in the bottom of the cup 49. The quadrants 48 are surfaced and rise above the depressions 50 in the bottom of the cup 49, and operate as the stationary sucker surfaces. With these cooperate correspondingly raised sucker quadrants 51.011 the rclthe intervening quadrants-52 being depressed and having relatively large apertures 53 therein. A boss 54, midway between the quadrants 5l, extends upwardly from the surface 52 and is faced oil in the same plane with the quadrants The vertically extending rod 4l extends through a central opening in the cover 55 screw threaded upon the cup member 4S). Einbraced between the cover 55 and the flange on the cup 49 and free to move with respect thereto is the circular stirrup member 56 having projecting studs 57 engaging loosely in the tained by callibration test in the usual manner. When it is desired'to set the circuit breaker to respond to a vertical slots 58 in the members 59 secured to and extending vertically down fromthe housing 7. The

stirrup member 56 is supported by vertically extend-l ing portions 60 pivoted at their upper ends at 61 to the arms 62 which are pivoted concentrically with but independently of thearmature frame 32 at 33. The ends of the arms 62 remote from pivots 33 are joined by the plate 63 to `which is secured plate63 having the angularly disposedv slot 64. The suiffape of the plate 63 is curved in an are Whose center is at" 33.. Upon the-frontvo Ithe housing and at its lower portion isA secured the plate 65 having the horizontal slot 66 through which extends'the end of the screw 67 engaging in the block 68 having the projecting pin 69`which engages loosely inthe slot 64 of the plate 63. The block 68'l1as projections which Vengage in the slot 66 serving as a'guide',V so that moving the screw 67 backward andorward'horizontally will shift the -plate 63', in an'arc about the center 33' and, therefore,

lift or lower -the stirrup56 whichcarries the cup 49 of the sucker device. -This adjustment, therefore, really causes an adjustment of the distance between the armature 34and the poles 35, so that the circuit breaker will "respond to different current loads,

such loads being indicated on the plate 65 by the' ,scale 70 with which cpperates the pointer 71 moving with the block 68 and screw 67. The scale 70 is obas shown in Fig.` lkthe 'circuit closing position, when the current in the circuit reaches or exceeds the value corresponding with theV indication of the pointer 7l on the Vscale 70, the armature is attracted by the poles 35 due to the magnetism generated therein by the current flowing through the coil 36. The armatureis unable to l respond immediately, however, due to the sucker action oi the quadrants 51 which bear` upon the.quadrants 48 of the cup member, a film ot' oil or other suitable material intervening. A suitable quantity of oilis normally held in the bottom 'of the cup 49. If the magnetizing force of the current passingthrough the circuit breaker is exerted for a sufficiently long time upon the armature 34, the sucker eventually yields, separating from the coperating quadrants 48. The armature 34 then moves in a clockwise direction' about its pivot 33, as viewed in Fig. 2, and the striking member 3l strikes the underside of the tail 30 of the latch actuating member 28, and that member, in` turn, strikes upon the top of the latch 25, thus releasing the-roller 23 and allowing the toggle 20, 22 to collapse, whereupon the laminated bridgingmember moves about its pivot away from the contact blocks l. and 2, the metallic shunt Contact 9 lseparating from its complementary contact 8 and finally the carbon 14 separating from the carbon l2 tua-ted by the member 28, serves to deliver a blow to the operators handle 17 to hasten the opening Inove-v ment. The greater' the current How through the circuit breaker thegreater will be this blow and the quicker' the opening movement. l

The sucker, as above stated, prevents instantaneous response to the overload or abnormal condition. This is a desirable mode of action', because, if an abnormal electricalcondition obtains for a very short interval of time only, in many cases no damage can he done.

The surfaces of the quadrants 48 and 5l are not absolutely smooth, though smooth surfaces serve well as a sucker. Thesurfaces of the quadrants arev slightly roughened, as by sand blasting, etching, electrol'ilating, machining,lor any other suitable process, with the rcsult that upon each resetting of the sucker the same force will, at this expiration of the same length of time, separate the suck-er elements, an'ioperation which is not true of sucker elements with perfectly smooth surfaces'. Thus, when perfectly smooth surfaces are employed` if the sucker is allowed to stand a number of hours, it will be'found that a different force will be required to sep arate the sucker elements in a given time than when those elements have been in contact. only ra. relatively short period. The roughening, above referred to, obviates this variation in the constant of the sucker and renders it to all intents and purposes uniform irrespective of the time interval between setting and actuation.

The greatest amount of' sucker surface is active when the quadrants 5l are directly above quadrants 4S. To -change this'amount of coperating surface the cup 49 as a whole is rotated upon the stirrup 56, the sucker member A47 remaining stationary. This adjustment oi surface in the sucker makes it responsive to a given applied force 'in shorter and shorter times as thecoperating surface is made less and less. These times of respons may be callibrated, in seconds or other time units upon the stirrup 56 and the pointer carried by the handle 72 upon the cup member 49 serves as an indicationwhen the proper amount of surface is active in the sucker, because rotating theha-ndle 72 rotates `the cup 49 for the purpose above described.

,It is to be understood that different materials can be used for the sucker elements, as iron, brass, etc. And the cup element 49 and its quadrants 48 may be of iron,

Y such as castA iron, while the coperating movable sucker i element' may be of brass.

. What Iclaim is:

1. In` controlling mechanism, the combination with aY movable element, ofa start delaying device comprising juxtaposed roughened surfaces, and a liquid adhering to said surfaces.

`2. ln controlling niechanism, the` combination witha movable element, of a start delaying device comprising juxtaposed sand-blasted surfaces, and a liquid adhering to said surfaces.

3. In controlling mechanism. the combination with a I movabl'eelement, of a start delaying device comprising a 'i'. In controlling merlianisni. the combination with a nu-ivable element. oi' a sucker. and means for adjustingr the extent of the juxtaposed sarlat-es ot' the sucker elements.

5. In controlling mechanism, the combination with a movable element. oi' a sucker. and means for adjusting said sucker, whereby it shall yield to a certain force after various intervals oi' time.

.i. 'lhe combination with a tripping mechanism of a eircuit breaker, oL a sucker associated with the movable trippingl member. and means for adjusting said sucker. whereby it shall yield to a certain applied torce aller various intervais of time.

lti. A start'v delaying vdevice comprising a sucker, a sui'- faee of a sucker element being roughened, and means for adjusting the extent of the juxtaposed surfaces of the sucker elements.

1l. 'ihe combination with a tripping mechanism of a circuit tweaker, of a sucker associated with the movable trippingr member, a surtace o an element ot" said sucker being roughened. and means for adjusting the extent of the juxtaposed surfaces et the sucker elements.

12. in controlling mechanism, the combination with a movable element. of a sucker associated therewith, the movable sucker element pivotedupon a ring member; said ring member pivoted to a connector upon an axis at right angles to the pivotal axis of said sucker element.

1?. In tripping mechanism, the combination-with a magneti7`able member, ot" a start delaying devicethe movable element of said 'start delaying device being connected with said magnetizable member, a support for the non-movable element oi said start delaying device, means 'for adjusting said supporting member comprising Stationary and movable slotted members, and a member movable in the slot of one of said members and engaging in the slot of the other.

14. In trippingr mechanism. the combination with a movable magnetizabie member, of a sucker, the movable sucker' element connected to said magnetizable member, a support ior the stationary sucker element, means for adjusting said support to adjust the position of' the magnetizable member comprising stationary and movable slotted mem-' bers, the slots in said members being disposed at an angle with respert to each other, and a member movable in the slot. of one memifer and engaging in the slot of the other to citeer adjustment.

if. in tripping mechanism, the combination with a magnetizabie member. of a sucker, a stationary sucker eiement connected to said magnetizahic member, and a support [or the sucker cup, said sticker cup being rotatable upon said support. vhereby the extent of area of juxtaposed sucker surfaces may be varied.

iti. A start. delaying device comprising a sucker, a sucker element consisting of-a cup, a cover therefor, and a. cup support' held between said cover and said cup member i 1'?. A start delaying -devi're comprising'a sucker, a sucker element consisting of a cup member, a cover therei'or, a cup support eontined loosely between said cover and cup member, whereby said eup member may be rotated upon said support to adjust theextent of juxtaposed sticker surfaces.

1R. A start delaying device comprising a sucker, the. sticker elements having juxtaposed-sector surfaces, and means for 4adjusting the Ysectors of 'the stationary and movable sucker elements with respect: to each other.

ib. ihc combination with a mngnetizable member, of

a movable sucker element connected therewith, a relatively stationary sucker element, means for adjusting the position of said magnetizable member, and means operated by said adjusting means for correspondingly adjusting the stationary sucker element. j

20. 'lhe combination with a magnctizable member, of.' a movable sticker element connected therewith, a relatively stationary sucker element, and eoperatinp; xed and stationary slotted members for simultaneously adjusting the position ol' said magnetizablo member and said stationary sut-ker element.

2]. 'Ihe combination with a lnagnetizable member, of a sucker element: connected therewith, a relatively stationary sticker element'. means fo' adjusting the position of said magneiizable member. and a pivotal connection between the stationary sucker element and said adjusting means. wherein the position of the stationary sticker element is adjusted simultaneously with said magnetizable member.

22. ihe combination with a magnetizable member, of a sticker element connected therewith, a relatively stationary sucker element' comprisingr a cup member, means for adjusting the position of said inagnetizable member, a cup supporting member, aud a pivotal connection between said cup supporting member and said adjusting means.

22%. The continuation with a magnetizable member, of a sucker elemeat connected therewith, a pivoicd member for adjusting lthe position of said magnetizbie member. i a relatively stationary sucker element, and means connecting said stationary sucker element with said pivoted member.

24. The combination with a magnetizable member, of' a sucker element connected therewith, a pivoted member for adjusting the position of said magnetizable member, a relatively stationary sucker element, and'a pivotal connection between said stationary sucker element and said pivoted member.'

25. The combination with relatively fixed and'stationary sucker elements, of a support for a relatively stationary sticker element, and a pivotcd member connected with said support for adjusting the sucker to different positions.

2G. The combination with relatively movable and stationary sucker elements, of a support-for said relatively stationary sucker clement. a pivoted member for moving said support, and a guide for said support during move! ment.

2T. 'ilie combination with a relatively movable sucker element, of a relatively stationary sucker element comprising a cup member, a cup support, means for moving said cup support to different positions, und a guide.

2S. The combination with a relatively movable sucker element, of a relatively stationary sucker element comprisiug` a cup member, a cup support. a pivoted member for moving said support, and a guide.

29. The combination with a relativelymovabie sucker element, ot a relatively stationary sucker element comprising a cup member. a cup support, a pivoted member for moving said support, a magnetizable member connected .vitlLsaid pivoted member, and a connection between'siiid magnetzable member and said relatively movable sucker elementi 30. The combination with a sucker element comprising 1- cup member, of a relatively movable sucker elemente support for said cupanember upon which :said cup member V130 may be moved, and an indicator for indicating the position o. said cup member with respect to said movable sucker element.

31. The combination with a sucker element comprising a cup member, of a coperati'ng sucker .elementn .cover for said cup member. a cup support confined loosely between-said cover and cup member, and'means for'indieating the relative position of the sucker elements.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature in the presence ot the two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM M. SCQTT.

Witnesses:

C. D. Enna/r, HARRY SnonMAKnn. 

